Health Care, Reproductive Rights & Disability Rights

We track legislation, budgets, policies, events, and other issues related to health care, reproductive rights & disability rights at the state and federal levels with the aid of our Health Care Working Group. Each week, this team of volunteers shares news stories, research, and other information on a range of health issues, discusses which items are ripe for action, and writes calls to action (C2As) that inform others and propose actions. Members volunteer about an hour a week—a little more if they are writing that week’s call to action—and conduct their business via a closed Facebook page. Our C2As are distributed to 15,000-20,000 Mainers each week via our email list, our member forum, and our partnerships with other regional and state groups. You can read some of our most recent health care C2As below.

If health care, reproductive rights, or disability rights are important to you, and you have an hour or two to spare over an entire week, please email us at suitupmaine@gmail.com about joining our Health Care Working Group!

A bill that would roll back accessibility rules required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed the House last week–with Rep. Poliquin voting YES–and is headed to the Senate.QUICK ACTION: Call Poliquin to protest his vote and call Sens. Collins and King and tell them to oppose any attempt to bring the bill for a vote.

The reauthorization of CHIP is now being used as a bargaining tactic in the debate over the government shutdown. A vote is expected on Jan. 22 that may resolve the issue.UPDATE: As part of a bipartisan deal, CHIP has been reauthorized for six years.

To pay for tax cuts for corporations and the rich, the Senate tax plan will slash Medicaid and Medicare funding and repeal the ACA individual mandate, likely leading to a collapse of the health care markets. Call Sen. Collins (202-224-2523) and tell her to vote NO on any tax bill that cuts health care to fund tax cuts to the rich.

Trump’s ACA sabotage tactics include halving the open enrollment period, and slashing the marketing and outreach budget. Help Mainers know that the new enrollment period is open NOW, and will end on Dec. 15.

Trump’s new “religious freedom” executive order allows employers to deny contraception coverage if the employer claims a moral or religious objection, opening the floodgates to discrimination in the name of religion. Submit a public comment to HHS through the ACLU, and send a message to health insurers through Ultraviolet’s petition.

The Senate GOP is once again threatening to take health coverage away from millions of Americans, gut Medicaid and end guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Call, fax, email, Tweet, share Suit Up Maine graphics and show up until Sens. King and Collins issue statements opposing Graham-Cassidy.

The House Appropriations Bill eliminates the Title X program, which provides basic healthcare such as contraception and cancer screenings to nearly 4 million low-income people, including 20,000 Mainers. Urge Representatives Pingree and Poliquin to support this program that provides vital health services and prevented nearly 300,000 abortions in 2015 alone.

Suit Up Maine is an all-volunteer grassroots group of Mainers who work to raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren’t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state’s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.